spring – the time of love and new cars
Posted: March 20, 2015 Filed under: history | Tags: first new car, love and new cars, my history, rugby trips, spring, toyota corolla 68 CommentsIt’s spring, when thoughts turn to love and cars. Fondly I recall my first new car, a 1974 Toyota Corolla. I was so green I didn’t know you could negotiate the cost so I paid the full sticker price. I went in to pick it up tried to haggle with the salesman and he said, “You can’t do that.”
“Oh, OK” What did I know about the world?
Imagine $4,300.00 for a new car. It thrilled to drive it off the lot and if I lurched about trying to learn to drive a stick, that excited too.
It was the perfect car to drive about the Midwest for rugby matches, including the Ohio Under 23 select side match against Michigan. I drove with “Moose” and we won the game, on the
way home my mileage was way down and I was sure my car new car was failing. Imagine my relief when I discovered Moose’s bulk cost me six miles per gallon.
Now I dream of a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Corvette, but somehow I don’t think they’ll thrill like a Grey Toyota with a motor smaller than Harley Hog.
I’d love to hear about your first car.
We had such good comments, that I invite you to share a picture if you have it…
First car love from Diana
at https://talktodiana.wordpress.com/
bwthoughts 
My dad bought me my first car. I was a senior in college and needed a car to drive to another city for my student teaching. I wanted a yellow sunbird we saw advertised, but he came home with a much-used, much-more-practical brown Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. I was disappointed for a day or two, but when a friend painted over the ugly gray streak on the passenger side, then it didn’t look too bad. I was pretty happy with the car after that. Loved the brown vinyl seats, and it was a smooth ride! Sorry…I don’t have a picture. Wish I did!
For some of us, our first love and our first car are one and the same. You spent $4k, but received 10 times as much in terms of experiences and memories. Enjoyed the post. BTW, my first car was a red Toyota Tercel. I drive a Honda SUV now and will have other cars before I leave this Earth, but that little red car will always be my first.
I’ve never had a bad Toyota.
My mind froze up at 4k for a new car. I think I need a reboot.
My first car–a hand-me-down from Mom, a 1955 Buick–yellow with green interior. Ugly, come to think of it. No power steering, no power brakes. But I had fun with it, even though I had to share it with my sister.
I remember no power steering – every corner was an adventure š
Don’t judge the Buick š I think I shared mine with my sis too!
car shopping now… 4,000 would get a junker… my “72” Z28 wasn’t much more than that Toyota
I know – I was looking to pick up a cheap used car for my daughter and “surprise”
Z28 – Nice!
I’m from Detroit so I love cars! My first one was a hand me down from my parents who loved large vehicles. I’m 5’1 so imagine me driving a huge 4-door cream colored Cadillac. I loved that beast though. Great memories!
Nothing like cruising in a big GM car is there, especially for road trips, those cars really ate the miles ( and gas ) š
My “first car” was a shared one. It was a (pea) green ’65 Mustang. By the time my brothers and I got the keys for this, my Mom had been driving it for almost 7 years. I was the first one who had the privelege, but still had to haul around my brothers, then when my next brother became a licensed driver, he was in charge of picking us up and hauling us around. You see, my two brothers and I were born in 1955, 57 and 59. Like stairsteps, we were all in high school at the same time for only one year. (My senior year, Randy was a junior and Rich was a freshman!)
those were fun, unless you got stuck in the back seat š
My first car was an Austin 1300 – twin brother to the one Basil Fawlty beats up in Fawlty Towers. It wasn’t sexy and it wasn’t fast, but it never let me down. Then I got a battered Triumph Herald, the steering wheel was as big as a mini roundabout and the roof leaked, but you could put the top down on sunny days and voila! Instant cheerfulness.
oh… my first (and only) car was a mere Hyundai, about which someone else said once that though there is a speed limit, it’s very good no one thought to limit how fast you get to it š
My car was like that too, we used to joke I was really pedaling it š
My first car was a Ford Maverick, yellow with brown vinyl roof. My dad was a mechanic and tow truck driver. The engine had frozen up and the owner needed it towed, but couldn’t pay the tow bill or the repairs, so my dad bought it for the tow bill, put in a new engine, and it became the Hot Mav. I’d post a picture I have on Facebook, but I don’t know how. Peace, Linda
That’s a good story Linda – and a memorable car.
My first car was a Ford Escort – no aircon – now, in the tropical heat of Singapore —- you must be foolhardy or poor! It was a used car – like 12 years old. And like all used cars, it never failed to surprise me with what all can go wrong or not work. 1978 – memories.
Yep back then airconditioning was a luxury I couldn’t afford either. But those Fords had good heaters for our winters.
Okay, Bill – my car had heaters too š
A green ford. When it broke down, I cried like a baby.
parting with a favorite car is indeed a sorrow
The first car I loved, truly loved, was a 65 Mustang – copper and white with the pony package and wire wheels. I LOVED this car! And wish I still had her – ahhhh first car love.
sweet – 65 Mustang was a classic – and first car love does exist š
My dad gave it to me on my 25th bday – but it was already 15 yrs old, had lived all its life on the east coast so had some mighty bad rot going on. Lived in CO so the winters made it worse, finally the floor gave completely out and we sold it for parts. A sad, sad tale š¦
Yes – that would have been sad. When one of my daughters turned 16 we got her a Buick LeSabre, big/safe – it was from Arizona so unlike Ohio cars it had no rust. At first she said – “Dad, that’s an old person’s car, I don’t want to drive it.” Later a boy asked her out, and his car had a big rust hole in the floor and she home and said, “That’s not such a bad car after all” š
1969, I think it was, 3-speed stick shift, American motors, Javelin
The ad was “Sorry, but I can’t drag race you because I have a fish bowl in my front seat”
White outside with a red interior. Loved it.
$2300 tax, tag, and title. – and a lot cheaper than a Mustang, and I thought just as nice.
Worked well for me driving around the University of Miami.
Randy
Javelin – you must have been a girl magnet Randy š
Love Toyotas – they last forever!
It was 1986. I was 23 years old. My vehicle? A retired milk truck with a hole in the roof where the milk sign used to be. (I stuck a wine cork in it) A 1963 Chevy pick up with 3 on the tree. Bright yellow with black doors.
I loved that truck! When 4X4s got stuck in the snow and ice, I drove on by weighted down with sandbags in the back. ā¤
Diana xo
What a great visual Diana – I love that truck too!
I have a photo! I don’t know how to attach it a comment though!
send it along, and I’ll add it to the post š
Ok I sent it!
It’s in š
Ain’t she a beaut? Thanks for sharing the pic Bill!
Diana xo
thanks for contributing, I hope others share their pics.
I hope so too!
š
Ah, spring! Yes, love was always a part of the pic…. but never a new car, A new wardrobe was the key to excitement for me!
Love the Moose part! Love the whole story!
Happy Spring, Bill! š
tell me about something new and special for you Resa? A pair of red shoes ? š I’d like to hear.
I haven’t found the ones I want, yet, but I’m looking for new red sneakers!
When I was in high school, the varsity basketball team got free red converse. How proud we were to wear them – unfortunately they didn’t make us taller !
I thought of Converse, but I’m looking for something else that I won’t know until I see them!
Only hi-heel/platform sneakers will make you taller, and I don’t think those would work playing basketball! š
My first car was a split screen Morris Oxford with a side valve engine. I bought it for Ā£4.00 and sold it for Ā£5.00. I had covered it with paintings of flowers, swirls, colour etc. too (well it was the 60s)!
What a cool ride. Love to see a picture .
Cool it wasn’t, an old heap even then and grey. No pics as I was a poor student, luckily worked in a garage some nights so could do bits of work on it cheap to keep it going.
I had my first car 2 years ago, pfff… I wasn’t too excited, because I knew if was going to engulf a lot of money, despite the freedom š
yes, some call cars a hole into which one pours money. But road trips are such a delight š
Agreed ! š I love road trips š
do you have a favorite place or country to drive in ?
The US “countryside” without any hesitation !!!! Everything is so well indicated compared to Europe š Petrol is cheap, roads are bigs, cars are awesome, they are all automatic !!! I love driving in the US. And drivers are so laid back and friendly. But, not in big cities, like Chicago and Los Angeles (over there, it was like hell). What about you ?
France was an adventure, sometimes the road was so narrow that we nearly had to go into the ditch to avoid a head-on.
But like you, I love driving in the West, Montana, Wyoming, sometimes we’re driving along and say, “Look, there’s a car!” —
Driving across the Rez near Grand Canyon was unmarked with gas stations few and far between, that was scary, but I think the road that runs up into Albequerque, RT 25 is beautiful at sunrise, that’s one of my favorites.
haha I can imagine ! I had that in Croatia, but it’s a bit the same in every European country.
I haven’t been to New Mexico yet ! š
Oh my goodness … (I don’t think I will keep my first car for that long, will I? Lol)
-Naima
I haven’t bought ‘my’ personal first car yet but I am sure, when I buy it I will be as excited as you were back in 1974.
-Naima
I bet you will. But the rest of the story is… I crashed it at about 1,500 miles – nothing quite compares to looking at your first new car getting towed away….. but that’s another story…
Haha, your stories are always amazing — one giving birth to another. It never ends and that’s why I enjoy talking to you so much ā¤
-Naima
You’ll have your own soon enough š – That car manual windows, I even had to put in my own radio – which goes to show that the satisfaction of getting it yourself overcomes many bells and whistles.
So how long did you have that car for?
-Naima
89,000 miles š
Oh my goodness .. (I don’t know if I will go that long with my first car lol)
-Naima
the thing with a car is if you don’t drive them along way, you waste alot of money. Our last van had 188,000 miles 302,000 Km š
My dad will say the same thing (lol)
-Naima
many think their car is an asset, but unless you’re a taxi driver ( or Uber driver not in jail ) then your car is a liability. It’s important to spend on assets, and limit liability expenses š
Your father sounds like a wise man.
You just gave me a lesson on economics of cars in four lines (bravo!)
My father is a funny man, I think (lol)
-Naima
He certainly knows how to raise a fine daughter š
Awww Paa ā¤
-Naima